Thursday, December 31, 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Finished the falchion today (except for one more coat of linseed oil on the grip), still have a scabbard to do before this project is done.Here is the hilt:And the whole piece(the camera distorted it a little):

Friday, December 25, 2009

I knocked off early (7:00pm) today in favor of spending Christmas Eve with my wife (way better than working). Went to the midnight service at the church we grew up at.Here is the Falchion hilt as it is tonight (and will be for a couple of days).

Rained off and on all day yesterday (worked late again) and kept me form working on the falchion. I love rain, but preferably when I have a lot of inside work to do. Spent the day working on my website, facebook, and twitter. I really would rather just do bladesmithing but I don't live in 900AD so I have to learn to use all the tools at my disposal( I must say this internet stuff can be a lot of fun and is sort of addictive).Check out the twitter button on the right.

Friday, December 11, 2009

The steel for the new quench tank came this afternoon so I fabricated that this evening.Here is the finished tank, 41" tall, 4"x1 1/2 " with a 12"x12" base plate:It rained on ad off tonight so I didn't get a chance to HT the falchion blade so that will be tomorrow. Pray it goes off well, HTing is the most difficult and stressful part of bladesmithing as you never know exactly what a given blade is going to do. I'm guessing (and hoping) that this blade will take a slight "nose dive" and straighten just a bit.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

I polished the blade (to 120gt) for heat treating.Here is the blade after 8hrs., 4 sanding belts, and -4oz. of steel later:The steel for the new quench tank is supposed to arrive tomorrow.Beautiful evening, I was listening the the rain outside the shop along with Enya's boadicea while I was filing the scalloped edges on the back of the blade.

The rain is falling softly down,And watering the sod,As along this toilsome way, Steadily I plod.

Its not that I would trade my lot,For any other man’s,Nor that I will be ashamed,Of my work torn hands.

For I have chosen the path I tred, Knowing it would be steep,And I will take the joys thereof,And the consequences reap.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

It rained all yesterday so I was unable to do any forging. I spent the day updating my website, flickr, and youtube accounts, as well as ordering supplies for a new quench tank for oil quenching. I'm off to work on the Fledermaus (German for bat) falchion blade today. I will not be making a video of this piece so it should progress faster, my goal it to have it finished in under two weeks(okay my goal is to have it done in a fair bit less than that, but I always take too optimistic a view of these things). Pray I get it finished in under a week.

Friday, December 4, 2009

I finished the Ballock knife late last night, and took the photos this morning, and my DSL crashed before I could get them uploaded, SO I will post the pictures and video as soon as my internet works again, Sorry for the delay.Lord willing I'll get it back online tonight.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Some days just don't go the way you would like. I was on track for finishing the ballock knife today, until I ran into trouble with the casting for the sheath. After two attempts I ended up ruining the sheath and will have to make another tomorrow. That's what I get for switching casting alloys and not testing it first.

I finished the Ballock knife today (well technically yesterday) and Lord willing will have the sheath finished tomorrow(today, it is too late to keep it all straight). I'll post pictures when it is finished.

About Me

First and foremost I am a follower of Jesus Christ and of His teachings.I am happily married to my forge fairy Corrie, the most wonderful woman in the world.
To find out more about me and my work Visit my website